England wins third Test, but Windies batsman Roston Chase shines

Roston Chase of West Indies hits 4 during day 4 of the 3rd and final Test between West Indies and England at Darren Sammy Cricket Ground, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, on February 12, 2019. (Photo by Randy Brooks / AFP) (Photo credit should read RANDY BROOKS/AFP/Getty Images)

On Tuesday, England soundly defeated the West Indies by 232 runs in the third and final Test match between the two countries played at the Darren Sammy National Stadium in St Lucia.

Undefeated century

All was not bleak for the Windies as Barbadian batman Roston Chase struck an entertaining 102 runs not out, his fifth Test hundred to take some of the shine off a clinical England performance.

Asked to chase an improbable 485 after England declared their second innings on 361 for five, 25 minutes after the start of the penultimate day, West Indies’ batting could only mage a total of or 252 runs, some 20 minutes before the scheduled close of play.

Only the right-handed Chase saved the Indies from total humiliation with the second innings tottering at 35 for four at lunch.

Chase, unbeaten at lunch on eight, then combined with Shimron Hetmyer (19) in a 45-run, fifth wicket stand which halted the slide. Chase then put on a further 34 with wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich On 53 at tea, Chase found allies in Roach, with whom he put on 46 for the seventh wicket, and then with Alzarri Joseph, adding a further 56 for the eighth wicket, to delay the inevitable.

Joseph unleashed a cavalier 34 off just 30 balls near the end while fellow tail-ender Kemar Roach produced a breezy 29 off 43 deliveries, but their innings were of academic interest only as the result was never really in doubt once veteran English seamer Jimmy Anderson (3-27) wiped out the top order.

Off-spinner Moeen Ali supported with three for 99 while seamer Ben Stokes picked up two for 30.

Nonetheless

The defeat, however, did nothing to detract from an outstanding West Indies series performance which saw them crush England by 381 runs in the opening Bridgetown Test and follow that up with a 10-wicket triumph in the second Test in St John’s, clinching the coveted Wisden Trophy for the first time in a decade.

Chase, unbeaten at lunch on eight, then combined with Shimron Hetmyer (19) in a 45-run, fifth wicket stand which halted, Chase then put on a further 34 with wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich On 53 at tea, Chase found allies in Roach, with whom he put on 46 for the seventh wicket, and then with Joseph, adding a further 56 for the eighth wicket, to delay the inevitable.